The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-14
THE NAPOLEON OF MAGIC
wAYSTHAT ARE DARK AND TRICKS
THAT ARE MOTT VAIN.

I4et1 IN . v CCV IOChSb---4 u6 CTOI6SSOr
q Mesmerist as well as Prestidigi-
tateur.
From, the Ne,o York Evening Sun
The most deceitful man on the American
continent to-day is the prestidigitateur
necromancer, magician, sleight-o hand
man, and worker of mysterious marvels
generally, Prof. Alexander Hermann,
second cousin to the Old Boy himself Deceit
shines from his big, black, cleaning eyes,
it runs down his coat sleeves, and trickles
from his finger tips; sometimes it streams
down his trousers legs and makes its APP
pearance from the soles of his patent leather
shoes.
Personally the professor is the very en-
bodiment OF the polished villain in the play.
Erect and sinewy as an Indian, with Napo-
leonic moustache and imperial, he could
challenge comparison as the ideal Mephis-
topheles. But Prof. Herrmann's wicked
ness lies only in his appearance. In reality
he is one of the most amiable and virtuous
of men. He is engaged in doing funny bust
ness because it pays, and pays we'll.
1.-THE truth is" said the Professor in a
dressing room underneath the Bijou Opera
House, ''peeple like to see marvellous things.
AS rule they don't care how they are mys-
tilted, how the handkerchief is put into the
egg, or how any of the numerous tricks is
performed. They are simply content to be
humbugged, as Mr.. Circus Barnum says, as
long as they are well fooled"
is your skill in feats of legerdemain
mainly the result of educationw
''No, sir My success is due to the fact
that was built that way. 1t is my inherit
ance from the unknown. [ have perfected
envy manipulation by practice, but the initial
motive comes from my heredity. My skill
is not confined to my slight-of-hand per-
formances in public. l have psychological
or mesmeric powers which l do not display,
because there has been so much humbug in
that line. ] will give you sample of my
power. Please stand up"
The reporter obeyed.
''Put your feet close together"
The Professor then placed the tips of the
fingers of both his hands on the reporters
shoulders He then directed another man
standing behind the reporter to place his
fingers over his (the Professors fingers.
'FNow,n said the Professor to the third
party, mod your head in the direction you
wish the reporter to fall. -
The scribe saw he was caught and he
looked down to see if the floor was oak or
pine His next impulse was to stretch his
legs apart. But those dreadful black eyes
were on him. The third party nodded-in
which direction the victim knew not Al
most Immediately, while the Napoeonic
demon was apparently looking down through
him and Analysing the late breakfast he had
eaten, the reporter felt a marked sensation
down his left side, which quickened the
action of his heart. He did not try to drive
the feeling away by an effort of will, and
slowly the sensation-which somewhat re-
sembfed prolonged shock of electricity
deepened and quickened, until he began to
sway like tree partly chopped through.
He was heginEzng to size up the chances of
falling through the looking glass, when the
Professor removed his hands and with them
the influence
''Such manifestations of power as those of
which you have just felt the influence | re-
gard as perhaps my highest gifts" said the
professor. 'Given the proper subject, l can
cause him to fall to the floor without touch
ing his body. While don't profess to be
able to explain these phenomena, still l am
possessed of the power to execute them.n
The party resumed their seats, and the
professor handed around cigarettes. When
the magician reached his opened palm to-
ward the reporter, upon which lay two of
the little tobacco stuffed cylinders, the Gig
arettes magically melted into one As the
scribe lit a cigarette the professor plucked
another from the heart of the Jack rose in
his buttonhole and presented it to him.
''As | am rather pleased with your man
ner and conversation said the professor
''allow me to present you with slight testi-
monialo my regard, taking magnificent
diamond ring from his finger and placing it
on the finger of his visitor. The ring fitted
like the skin on the eel, and the lucky scribe
had already begun to congratulate himself
on his good luck when--presto, veto change!
and the ring was gone Bismallah the ring
was picked out of the visitors pocket by the
deft fingers of his occult jags, and it went
through "a series of open sesame changes, APP
pearing suddenly upon the floor, shooting
his tinted rays from its diamond eyes, and
again the ring flew out from between the
professors choker and coat.
Il will show you one of ny best tricks.
Johnny, get "a bottle of wine and some
goblets.n
Johnny returned with the wine ard Cob
lets. The professor poured wine into three
goblets until they were full to the brim
You will observe, gentlemen, that will
take this glass of wine and throw it INTO the
air, glass and wine both, and that it will
disappear"
The glass which the professor held was of
the ordinary size used for serving wine,
The glass was so full of the liquid that the
professor handled it with care lest he should
spill it. The professor stepped to the middle
of the room, holding the wine at arms
length. He gently lowered the glass and
then tossed it into the air. After it left the
magicians hand the glass and wine disap-
peared, leaving no trace behind but few
scattered drops upon the floor. Slipping
across the room, the wonder-worker took
the glass of wine from the vest pocket of his
visitor. After the exclamations of surprise
had subsidized, the professor said:
II performed that trick once in Berlin, in
1867. | attended a banquet given by the
French Minister Bismarck sat on my left,
and when | threw the wine and glass into
the air / took it out of Bismalck's pocket.
When Bismarck told Emperor William what
had done he sent me an order to use the
Imperial Opera House during my stay in
the city without rent
"The Sultan of Turkey was equally kind
to me. We We're on board his yacht and he
asked me if l could ito trick with his
watch, which was Il most beautiful instru-
ment, studded with precious stones, and
probably worth $1,000. After everybody
on board had admired the watch deliber-
ately threw it overheard. The Sultan
hardly knew how to take such an apparently
fragrant act. 1t was no joke to throw SO
valuable a watch into the sea.
Your Majesty. said ], will you send
for q line and baited hookn
He did so, and in a few moments the
sailor drew on board q large fish. When l
cut the fish open out dropped the Sultans
watch. He was SO much pleased that he
presented me with So 800 i'll gold !"